Extraordinary Parenting: the essential guide to parenting and educating at home

What a timely encouragement for parents during this time of pandemic. This book is a great reminder of the many great things that we do as parents without being aware of. Many times we think we need to do it all, or be this perfect parent, but we forget that our instincts are sometimes spot on. If you agree, this book will be a great reassurance of that.If you’re still doubting your capabilities or if you’re a new parent, what Eloise put together through this book is a great primer. I wish I had this when I was a new mom. But reading it now with a 3 year old son, it’s still helpful and a treasure trove of great resources. I found a parent who is on social media with a similar lifestyle to us and it’s been great talking to her. I wouldn’t have found out if Eloise didn’t share about their family in this book.If you don’t care for the information overload of social media, different parenting books and blogs, this will be a perfect resource for you.

What I love about the way Eloise writes is the empathy and patience that shines through. This book highlights the most important aspects of great parenting and builds on the what she has learned from working with many parents ad experts. It is well referenced, includes lots of exerts from parents and other coaches and most importantly leaves you feeling supported and empowered to be the best parent you can be for your child with your values in mind.Excellent.

I loved this book so much. It felt like just what I needed - gentle encouragement, no judgement and an understanding that we are all just doing our best in situations that are often tough. Loads of interesting ideas and insights. I felt really positive and encouraged about educating my own children, and like I could do it. Eloise is so knowledgeable but at the same time it doesn't feel like she is dispensing wisdom from a place of knowing it all, but rather like she is right there with you - making all your same mistakes and picking herself up again. Honestly I think there are too many parenting books out there that claim to solve all sorts of "issues" in 5 easy steps, or whatever - this is not one of them. The writer obviously recognizes there is no one size fits all solution, that each family and child is unique, and that parenting is intensely personal, and a constant journey that develops as your relationship with your child evolves, rather than something that can be taught in bullet points and executed. This books was refreshing, wise and heartwarming. I highly recommend it.

Easy to read and great content. Too bad there’s a lot of typos!

I really enjoyed this book! Our little one is only 5 months, but I love absorbing as much material as possible to give her the very best childhood I can. I found myself highlighting a lot of practical tips for the future, and thinking a lot about the atmosphere my home is providing.

Just beautifully written and aligns perfectly with how I want to raise my 3 month old!

If you want to raise your children in a way that matches your values as a human being, this book is for you! Eloise offers intelligent, non-judgemental, and practical advice about how to practice peaceful and respectful parenting. I plan to gift this to every new parent I know. It's that good. You and your family deserve more joy and this book can help you find it! Highly recommended!

Wholistic, practical and easy to read words of wisdom from Eloise! It’s a wonderful companion for every parent to remind (without sounding judgmental!) us to be intentional and gentle to our family and to ourselves.

A gently transformative guide for all parents and carers wanting to bring a little more joy, magic and calm to their days. This book is filled with accessible, specific advice, reassuring words and inspiration for all.I read this during lockdown (and oh boy did I need this book back then!) but it’s one I will read again and again whenever I need reinvigorating, and it will be just as useful and just as relevant.Even the tone is encouraging - it feels like it’s written by a friend - kind and understanding; free from judgement, never patronising, and without technical jargon.I’m tempted to call it a hug with words, because that’s what it feels like to read, but it’s more substantial than that. It’s a hug that lingers, and with a warmth that nourishes deeply.Packed full of ideas and inspiration, Extraordinary Parenting summarises relevant advice and insights from experts and specialists; gives bullet pointed prompts for reflection (opportunity for ‘aha’ moments and honest realisations - I found these really helpful); suggests activities for children of all ages; offers plentiful ideas for establishing meaningful rhythm; and gives support for positive communication.There’s also an excellent chapter dedicated to self care. Usually self care is an afterthought, or a source of guilt or niggling annoyance, but not here. Eloise looks at self care from different angles and the message finally sunk in.The first idea I adopted from this book was to light a candle at every mealtime, and it was an instant win. Amazing how such a simple idea can have such a positive impact on our days. I’m now excited to build on our daily and seasonal rhythms, whereas before reading this I was confused and frustrated.Basically, it’s a lovely book, and pitched perfectly. Practical and substantial, without being overwhelming. Comforting and understanding, without being wishy washy.Stop reading this review and start reading the book!

One of the most engaging, practical parenting books to be published in a long time ♥️ Unlike many, it doesn't rely on you needing to subscribe to a whole lifestyle philosophy, and contains actionable, easy-to-integrate practices that can work whatever your family culture. For once - a parenting book that allows you to celebrate everything that you're doing well in raising your kids, rather than shaming you for everything you're doing "wrong". I really appreciated the fact that TV and computer games are acknowledged as a healthy part of family life for many households too. There's a really nice balance between principles being backed up with evidence and research, but references being brief and not requiring the reader to wade through lots of scientific analysis. I've taken several of Eloise Rickman's courses, including Rhythm In The Home, A Beautiful Childhood, and a Beautiful Education, and it's really encouraging for me to see so much or her wisdom condensed into a more accessible material. Eloise's coaching has totally revolutionised the way that our family functions on a daily basis, and this book is such a perfect overview of her life changing philosophies, I'm totally confident that it will have an enormous impact on so many families.

I pre-ordered this book because I already home educate my children (and work from home!), then when it arrived I wondered whether it was aimed more towards parents finding themselves home educating due to Covid-19.Actually, there’s a wonderful mix of both and I ended up loving this book.Eloise writes in such a positive, non-judgemental way and offers plenty of advice which can be tailored to all family setups. I like the questions throughout which I started to work through on paper and became excited at all of the ideas I was having about education, our home and our family’s values.Since lockdown, we’ve ended up doing pretty much nothing. Neither us or the kids have had the motivation. After reading this book I really do feel reinvigorated and ready to restart our family rhythms, without feeling guilty for taking that time out.I will be recommending this book to all of the parents I know, no matter what the age of their children!

Usually I give up parenting books halfway through, because I just don't have the time.I read this entire book in one sitting. It is strongly based in an approach which upholds children's rights, while at the same time being full of practical, useful tips.I particularly enjoyed the section on playfulness. There are certain ruts that I think all parents get into, pressure points that always seem to teeter towards conflict, like trying to get a child dressed who has simply no interest in doing so.It was really helpful to be have practical reminders, like that these points can be turned into games, that t-shirts can be dinosaur's scale protectors that need to be put on immediately.It is an incredibly non-judgmental book, and I felt allowed it me take a critical but benevolent look at my own parenting, and to have made some changes which have (hopefully at least slightly) improved the lives of everyone involved in it.I also think for those parents who might feel a bit confronted and turned off by books like Alfie Kohn's, this book is the perfect mid-ground, which strongly upholds the rights of children yet somehow manages to be positive, practical and and constructive.Highly recommend and I already have several copies in the house to give to friends.

Someone said on a podcast with Eloise that she is the woman that reads all the parenting books you would like to have the time to read and distills it down to the essentials. And this book is exactly that; an easy-to-read, non guilt-inducing (in fact the total opposite) summary of what goes into making our children’s childhoods beautiful. Having followed Eloise for quite a while but not having the budget to do one of her excellent courses, I am so grateful for the wisdom imparted here in a clear and manageable way. I have learned a lot of lessons from this book and am keen to make a few, manageable tweaks to our home set up to make it feel like more of a child’s home rather than just a house she happens to live in. The advice and encouragement for home educators won’t speak to all parents but I personally found it invaluable, inspiring and timely as I have just made the choice to HE my own child.